Canada: Practitioners in Ottawa Protest Thai Police Violence

On December 15th, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Ottawa gathered in front of the Thai Embassy to appeal against the Thai police's violence against practitioners in Thailand. On December 10th, International Human Rights Day, under instigation by the Chinese Embassy, Thai police officers violently interfered with Falun Gong practitioners' peaceful and legal protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.

Practitioners' Message to the Thai Government: Don't Follow China's Suppression of Freedom

December 10th was International Human Rights Day. Practitioners in Thailand gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy to protest the rape of two women practitioners on November 25th by a Hebei police officer. They also peacefully protested against the more than 6-year-long persecution of Falun Dafa in general. But, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Embassy pressured the Thai police authority to harass the practitioners. On that day, dozens of police officers and plainclothes agents ran across the street and forcefully searched practitioners' purses and bags. In addition, they dragged people away and seized banners, resulting in physical injury, trauma and damage to personal property. Children ranging in ages from 4 years old to 14 years old were not spared. Upon hearing about the incident, practitioners in Ottawa immediately called the Thai Embassy to Canada to request a meeting. On December 15th, they rallied in front of the Embassy to protest the unreasonable behaviour of the Thai officials who encroached on practitioners' basic rights.

The practitioners delivered a letter of appeal to the Thai Embassy, requesting the Thai Government to protect Falun Gong practitioners' basic human rights, free themselves from the control of the CCP, and stop complying with the CCP in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners in Thailand.

In addition, practitioners also delivered the United Nation's investigation report on the persecution of Falun Gong, a report by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) on the systematic persecution, the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and other materials. Embassy officials said they would pass them on to the ambassador, and would mail them back to Thailand as well.

The practitioners pointed out that in the past more than six years of brutal persecution, more and more people have come to understand the truth of Falun Gong and the evil nature of the CCP, as a result of practitioners' worldwide persistent truth clarification. Moreover, the Nine Commentaries, published last year, have throughly exposed the true evil nature of the CCP and awakened countless citizens. Consequently, more and more people have chosen not to follow the CCP any more and have renounced their membership in the party. However, while the CCP is collapsing, some Thai officials have instead acted against the historical trend: They yielded to the CCP's pressure and encroached upon practitioners' basic rights.

The practitioners pointed out further that any individual or government who followed the CCP in persecuting Falun Gong will be held accountable. To secure a bright future for the Thai people, practitioners stressed that the Thai government should uphold human rights and justice. "The Thai government should study the Nine Commentaries so that they can understand the evil nature of the CCP, and they should immediately release all detained practitioners," the practitioners stated. During the peaceful protest, most passing vehicles slowed down to read the banners. Drivers often honked or gave the thumbs-up sign to show their support to practitioners.